Commode seat heating pad



Dec. 4, 1956 R. J. ARBAUGH COMMODE SEAT HEATING PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 4, 1954 V INVENTOR. P/Cf/AQD' M 425406 772 )Gmam $0M ATTOE/VEYS.

Dec. 4, 1956 R. J. ARBAUGH 2,

COMMODE SEAT HEATING PAD Filed Feb. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent COMlVIODE SEAT HEATING PAD Richard Jerry Arbaugh, Iowa, La.

Application February 4, 1954, Serial No. 408,214

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-46) This invention relates to heating pads for commodes, and more particularly to an improved heating pad arranged to provide a desired degree of heating, in accordance with the temperature of the bathroom in which the device is employed.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved heating pad for a toilet seat, said pad being simple in construction, being easy to install, and being adjustable in temperature.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved heating pad for a toilet seat, said pad being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, and being readily removable for cleaning, Whenever required.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in cross section, showing an improved heating pad for a toilet seat constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the pad of Figure 1, shown installed on a toilet seat.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an electrical wiring diagram showing the electrical connections employed in the heating pad of Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to the drawings, the improved heating pad is designated generally at 21, the heating pad comprising a cover of flexible material adapted to be secured on a conventional toilet seat 22, the pad containing a plurality of electrical heater units, designated at 2, 2 and 3, as shown in Figure 4 and presently to be described.

The heating units are mounted on a flexible support, such as a piece of sheet canvas 23, which may be double thickness, if so desired, the heating elements 2, 2 and 3 being sewn on the canvas support 23 in a configuration such as that shown in Figure 4, as to conform with the shape of the toilet seat 22. Thus, the heating elements 2, 2 and 3 are looped reversely on the opposite sides of the toilet seat and extend around the seat in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. The heating elements 2, 2 may comprise round Nichrome wires, approximately No. 36 American Wire gauge, approximately forty-six feet long, spirally wound on approximately eight feet and three inches of round asbestos cord, shown at 24, three thirtyseconds of an inch in diameter. The wire turns in the spiral winding may be one-sixteenth of an inch apart. The heater winding 3 may comprise round Nichrome wire, approximately No. 34 American wire gauge, approximately fifty-three feet long, spirally wound on nine feet and six inches of round asbestos cord 24, similar to the asbestos cord 24, and being three thirty-seconds of an inch in diameter. The turns in the spiral winding of the heating element 3 are one-sixteenth of an inch apart.

The heating elements 2, 2 and 3 are enclosed throughout their entire length by insulation consisting of soft 2,773,167 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 "ice asbestos sheathing 25 which may be approximately onesixteenth of an inch in thickness.

The heater wires 2, 2 and 3 are connected together at one end thereof to a common conductor 26. At their opposite ends, the heater wires 2, 2 are connected together to a common conductor 27, and the opposite end of the heater wire 3 is connected to a conductor 28, as shown in Figure4. The conductors 26, 27 and 28 are preferably contained in a conventional three-wire extension cord of approximately No. 14 American wire gauge, and approximately eighteen inches long.

The heater wires, secured on their flexible support 23 are contained between opposed pieces of cotton padding 29 and 29' which are similarly shaped and which are adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat, the edges of the cotton padding pieces 29 and 29 being stitched together around their periphery, as shown at 30. Surrounding the cotton padding pieces 29 and 29 is a further container consisting of a bottom sheet 31 and a top sheet 31' of fleecy cotton nap rubber sheeting, the pieces 31 and 31' being shaped in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 to receive the inner unit containing the heating elements and being somewhat greater in width than the inner elements so that their edges may be stitched together at 32 around their inner and outer peripheries, as shown in Figure 3.

The rubber sheeting elements 31 and 31, stitched in the manner shown, define a receptacle which is substantially sealed against moisture, thus protecting the heating elements 2, 2 and 3 from dampness.

Designated at 33 is a flexible outer cover for the seating pad, made of suitable flexible material such as cotton flannel or the like in any color desired, and cut in a single piece. The width of the cover member 33 is substantially greater than the width of the inner members of the pad so that the member 33, which otherwise generally conforms in shape with the other members of the pad, is of sufficient width so that its marginal portions may be folded under the toilet seat 22, as shown at 34 and 34 in Figure 3. The edge portions of the opposite marginal elements 34 and 34 are provided with spaced grommets 35 and 35', said grommets being arranged opposite each other, as shown in Figure 2, and being adapted to receive the fastening lace or cord 36 which is engaged through the grommets in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 and which may be tied at its ends, as shown at 37, to detachably secure the heating pad on the toilet seat.

The cable containing the three wires 26, 27 and 28 is shown at 38 in Figure 1. Connected between the cable 38 and a conventional line cord 39 is a four position switch designated at 11.

The four position switch 11 comprises a stationary conductor 8 to which the wire 26 is connected as shown in Figure 4, one of the line wires of the line cord 39, shown at 40, being connected to said conductor 8. The switch 11 further comprises a short stationary contact 5 to which the conductor 28 is connected, an arcuate stationary contact 6 to which the conductor 27 is connected, and a longer arcuate stationary contact 7, opposite the contacts 5 and 6, to which the remaining line wire 41 of the cord 39 is connected. The switch 11 further comprises a rotatable shaft element 42 which is disposed centrally of the contacts 5, 6 and 7, as shown in Figure 4, and which has secured thereon the X-shaped switch pole comprising the intersecting conducting elements 9 and 10 which are of sufficient length to contact the stationary contact elements 5, 6 and 7 responsive to rotation of the shaft 42, said shaft being provided with a suitable external knob or handle 43 for rotating same.

Figure 4 illustrates the de-energized position of the device. If the shaft 42 is rotated a short distance clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, the contact member 9 may be brought into bridging contact with the respective stationary contact elements 5 and 7, whereby the single heating element 3 will be energized, giving a first degree of heat. By a further rotation of the shaft 42, the contact pole 9 may be brought into engagement with the contacts 6 and 7, energizing the heating elementsl, 2 and de-venergizing the heating element 3, giving a second degree of heat. By rotating the shaft 42 still further clockwise, the pole may be brought into bridging engagement with the stationary contact element 5 and the arcuate contact element 7 while the pole 9 is still in engagement with the contacts 6 and 7, thus simultaneously energizing the heating elements 2, 2 and 3, providing a maximum degree of heat.

While a specific embodiment of an improved heating pad for a toilet seat has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a cover for a toilet seat, a flexible substantially moisture-proof inner container shaped to fit on the top of a toilet seat coextensively therewith, a plurality of spirally wound heater wires of different lengths and diameters mounted in said flexible container and having different heating ratings for a given applied voltage, cushioning material surrounding said heater wires, a pair of line conductors, a selector switch connected between said line conductors and said heater wires and being formed and arranged to selectively connect said heater wires to said line conductors, an outer cover overlying said inner container, said outer cover comprising a single piece of flexible material generally conforming in shape to said inner container but having a width substantially greater than that of said inner container and extending on opposite sides of said inner container substantial distances so that its marginal portions may be folded under a toilet seat on which said inner container is mounted, and spaced grommets in the opposite edge portions of said outer coveradapted to receive a fastening cord, whereby such fastening cord may secure the outer cover around the inner container and the toilet seat by being engaged alternately through the grommets of said opposite edge portions, and may be tied at its ends.

2. In a cover for a toilet seat, a flexible substantially moisture-proof inner container shaped to fit on the top of a toilet seat coextensively therewith, a plurality of spirally wound heater wires of different lengths and diameters mounted in said flexible container and having different heating ratings for a given applied voltage, cushioning material surrounding said heater wires, a pair of line conductors, a selector switch connected between said line conductors and said heater wires and being formed and arranged to selectively connect said heater wires to said line conductors, an outer cover overlying said inner container, said outer cover comprising a single piece of flexible material. generally conforming in shape to said inner container but having a width substantially greater than that of said inner container and extending on opposite sides of said inner container substantial distances so that its marginal portions may be folded under a toilet seat on which the inner container is mounted, spaced grommets in the opposite edge portions of said outer cover, and a fastening cord of suificient length to be engaged alternately through the grommets of said opposite edge portions around the entire bottom circumference of the toilet seat and to be tied at its ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,670 Lagrelle Dec. 22, 1896 1,058,270 Stephens Apr. 8, 1913 1,168,146 Barnes Jan. 11, 1916 1,297,031 Stable Mar. 11, 1919 1,575,640 Ragland Mar. 9, 1926 2,339,409 Joy et al. Jan. 18, 1944 2,376,902 Clark May 29, 1945 2,382,312 Heinrich Aug. 14, 1945 2,447,738 Conner Aug. 24, 1948 2,706,767 Packhanian Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,111 Great Britain of 1893 

